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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Graeme Young

Celtic warned Real Betis hit squad is coming as dead rubber theory rubbished


Demanding Manuel Pellegrini insists his Real Betis side will be going to Glasgow to heap more Europa League misery on Celtic becausethey need the dough.

The Hoops are out of the Europa League after their late collapse in Germany against Bayer Leverkusen and face a dead rubber tie against the La Liga side next month, with Europa Conference League football ahead instead.

Betis visit Glasgow in between playing Barcelona away and then second placed Real Sociedad at home, after their win against Ferencvaros clinched the runners-up slot in the group.

But ex- Manchester City manager Pellegrini has revealed he will pick his strongest team for the Celtic clash because he is desperate for the win.

He said: "Now we can go to Glasgow relaxed and with no pressure, ahead of the match against Real Sociedad.

"But we are going to play our best team and we are going to Scotland for the win.

"There are two reasons for that. The prestige such a victory would bring and because of the economic benefits of collecting three points in the Europa League.

"The important thing was to qualify from a difficult group and we have managed it with one game to spare.

"There's actually no difference between finishing first or second. You play the same number of games.

"Apart from the match in Germany against Bayer Leverkusen, I am satisfied with the games we have played in the group. Three wins and a draw isn't bad."

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